Good News for the Environment!:
REPORT SHOWS GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
DECLINE 8 PERCENT IN NEW JERSEY

Statewide greenhouse gas emissions decreased by more than 8 percent in 2008,
bringing New Jersey under 2020 emissions levels targeted by the State's
Global Warming Response Act, according to a legislatively mandated report
issued by the DEP.

The Statewide Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventory for 2008 shows 124.9 million
metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions (MMTCO2E) generated in
New Jersey in 2008. That was down from 135.9 MMTCO2E in 2007 and is below
the 2020 target of 125.6 MMTCO2E.

According to the report, the top three causes of greenhouse gas emissions
are transportation (cars, buses, trains etc), electricity generation and
combined fossil fuel use in residential, commercial and industrial sectors.
Emissions resulting from transportation accounted for the highest portion,
or 40 percent of 2008 greenhouse gas; electricity generation caused 24
percent of greenhouse emissions; and combined residential, commercial and
industrial factors accounted for about 30 percent.

Accounting for the biggest reduction in 2008 is the electricity sector which
declined by 5.6 MMTCO2E. Transportation emissions declined by 2.3 MMTCO2E,
the largest decline in that sector since 1992.